RESOURCE LINKS Obituaries

~ Ferries spanned the Delaware before advent of bridges

 

Delaware Valley Advance, 1929

by Samuel C. Eastburn

Early Ferries

Until we get above Trenton and tide it is very difficult to identify the exact location of the early ferries, because the "Falls" was used to cover the bend of the river in the hole Pennsylvania District and because the general terms, "Falls," "falls of the Delaware," "Delaware Falls" and "Trenton Falls" were used. This and the fact that the ferries were often called after, and often owned by, different owners on either side of the river and when they were sold the old name still lingered. A "Hopkinson ferry" is often spoken of in old letters from the "Falls to Bordentown." The Hopkinson family then lived in Bordentown and doubtless rowed across at one place to visit their Bucks County friends but there is no record of a charter under that name.

These were all toll ferries and had charters from George the third and other English rulers which imposed some restrictions, and particularly to prevent their wires or ropes from impeding the boats or rafts. The New Jersey Council decreed in 1773 that "the ferries are a franchise of the Crown and that no person shall maintain a ferry without first having a royal grant." They were the mail routes and all of the officials, clerks, and state or government officials were to be carried free.

This Hopkinson family had two conspicuous members. Judge Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and author of "The Battle of the Kegs," and his son, Joseph Hopkinson, author of "Hail Columbia". My attention is called to it by an accident which happened when four persons who were crossing on the ice in a carriage at Hopkinson's Ferry broke through and two women were drowned. These were "Friends Preachers" from England on a religious visit to friends on the Delaware and were on their way to a Friends Meeting in New Jersey. I am reminded at this point that almost an entire family were drowned at one of the fords of the Neshaminy, returning from church.

Kirkbride's Ferry

The very earliest records of travel to New York by way of the "falls" spoke of crossing the "Kirkbride's Ferry." The Kirkbride's Ferry of tha day and some years later, was run by William Kirkbride, a friend who lived just back of the present Moon's Nurseries, and was probably quite primitive. It was not the Kirkbride's Ferry of the Revolution. that was further down the river and was handled in a much larger way by Colonel Joseph Kirkbride. In 1718 authority was given "to install a ferry at the Falls of the Delaware River" at the landing of Joseph Kirkbride for eleven years. It was sixty years between that, and the burning of Colonel Joseph Kirkbride's houses, buildings and ferry at Bellevue opposite Bordentown. This burning was by the British, and was probably in revenge for the assistance which Joseph Kirkbride was supposed to have given to the escape of Washington's army in crossing the river, from the pursuing British.

There was what was long known as "Biles Island Ferry" just below Morrisville, which went from the Islandof three hundred acres, which William Biles bought from the Indians in 1630 for ten pounds. General Davis says: "There had been a lower ferry at Trenton three quarters of a century before it was licensed by the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1718." The "Upper Ferry" was just above the present Calhoun Street Bridge on the New Jersey side.

James Trent, after whom Trenton was named, owned the limits of both ferries although some of it came into the possession of the Coxe family, who established ferries. One of these was owned at the time of the Revolution by Patrick Colvin, and it was by this ferry that Washington is said to have crossed into Pennsylvania and escaped the pursuing British December 8, 1776. It remained in Colvin's possession during the whole time of the Revolution and will go down into history as "Colvin's Ferry." This lower Ferry continued in service until 1806 when the bridge was built.

The upper or "new Trenton Ferry" was not opened for many years later. There were evidently several ferries at and in the vicinity of Trenton, in the time of the Revolution and it is fair to assume Washington commandeered all of their boats to assist him in the crossing, and left none on the New Jersey side. he had lost his baggage in his retreat across New Jersey, but he had over 6,000 men, some forty small cannon and some horses, and history tells us that he started to cross at eight o'clock in the morning and by 11 o'clock his army was entirely across, with all of the boats on this side.

The Colonial Legislature of New Jersey crossed over with him, and came to Four Lanes End, where they met in the house of Gilbert Hicks to "consider the state of the country." There is no record of what they did, and it is fair to assume that they weren't very certain just then that they had any country.

Washington Crossing

The next ferry above was the Yardley ferr, established by Thomas Yardley in 183 and confirmed to him May 22, 1722, "to be kept by him for a term of 14 years." On the New Jersey side it was called "Howell's Ferry." The next ferry above was "Samuel McConkey's Ferry" at Washington Crossing. This has an important part in Revolutionary history as the place where General Washington re-crossed the river to the successful battle of Trenton, the turning point of the war, and "the Marne of the American Revolution." It was known as Baker's Ferry for nearly a century, being on the large tract of land taken up by Samuel Baker. It was sold by his executors in 1774 tio Samuel McConkey, who owned it at the time of the famous Crossing. a fuller account of it can be found in the literature of the Washington Crossing Park Commission, appointed some ten years ago to build a park as a memorial for all time, of this important event.

There was a ferry at Brownsburg under various owners and known by different names as Beumont's and Opdykes. the most important ferry was at Coryell, two miles above, originally known as Welles Ferry, later as Coryell Ferry, now New Hope. the rights to this ferry were granted by George The Third "to our loyal subject Emanual Coryell." With the exclusive right for four English miles up and down the river, fixing the character of boat's and service, and various charges to be made. I have a copy of this document which shows the care of the English Crown over its subject in America. This is dated January 7th, 1773.

At the death of Coryell in 1748, his sons continued to run it for many years. The road to New York crossed here, stages ran on it and mails were carried. It was here that Sullivan and Gates crossed with Lee's Army when they brought it out of New Jersey "to the Bowman's Hill Camp" after Lee's capture, Washington crossed here with his army after the winter in Valley Forge, to the Battle of Monmouth. It was here that the British made their final effort "to cross the river and wipe out Washington's Army." The Coryell's were close friends of Washington , so intimate, it is said, that he requested Emanuel when the war was over to come to Alexandria, VA., and live near him. This he did, and he is said to have been the last living, of the pallbearers who carried their loved general to his grave.

Toll fares

The rates of fare over these ferries is interesting. In the very earliest days there was quite a variation. the later rates were more regular when the license or charter was granted. In 1690, the fare for a man and his horse (the horse swam behind) was two guilders, and the man along, 10 stivers, about 40 and 25 cents. at that time the Dutch money was the main currency. Later, English money was quoted, but there was little change in cost, one shilling or two shillings' still late, 25 cents. To0-day, on the only two ferries I know of within the limits of the county, it is again 20 cents for the passenger and 40 cents for his transportation, the auto.

I have written rather at length on old mills, roads, fords and ferries because they were almost the most important things to the early settlers, and with the great changes since made, can easily be out of sight. For much of my information I am indebted to the valuable and painstaking work of my friend B. F. Flackenthall, Reigelsville, PA., entitled "Improving Navigation on the Delaware River with some account of its ferries, bridges, canals and floods" which he was kind enough to present to me. Much more of it can be found in the volumes of papers red before the Bucks County Historical Society, now in our Langhorne Library.

 

 
 

 

 

Page last updated:    2021-07-15          Broken Links and to contribute additional data email - Nancy

ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1864) 2nd Inaugural

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan - to do all which may achieve a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. 

 

 
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